In short
Leg and buttock pain in pregnancy is common, but most of it comes from the pelvic joints and muscles rather than a trapped nerve. True sciatica can happen too. Staying active, physiotherapy and a support belt help many women. New back pain with bleeding, fluid loss, fever or tightenings needs urgent advice.
On this page
Is it really sciatica?
Many pregnant women describe pain in the buttock and back of the thigh as sciatica. Most of the time, it’s actually pelvic girdle pain or referred pain from the lower back and pelvic joints, rather than a trapped nerve. True sciatica from a disc bulge is less common in pregnancy.
The difference matters because it changes what helps.
- Pelvic girdle pain: pain over the back of the pelvis, buttocks, hips or pubic bone, worse with walking, stairs, standing on one leg or rolling in bed. It rarely goes below the knee and doesn’t cause numbness. See pelvic girdle pain.
- True sciatica: sharp, shooting or burning pain down the leg, often below the knee, sometimes with pins and needles, numbness or weakness.
Why does pregnancy cause back and leg pain?
- Hormonal changes loosen the ligaments around the pelvis
- Weight gain and a changing centre of gravity add load to the back and pelvis
- Changes in posture and how you walk
- Less sleep and more fatigue, which make pain harder to cope with
Pelvic girdle pain affects about one in five pregnant women.
Nerve pain getting in the way?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
What helps
- Keep active within comfort. Walking, swimming and water exercise are often well tolerated.
- Physiotherapy. A physio experienced in pregnancy care can tailor exercises and advice.
- A pelvic support belt helps some women with pelvic girdle pain.
- Sleep positions. A pillow between your knees and under your bump when lying on your side.
- Everyday changes. Keep knees together when getting out of bed or a car, take stairs one at a time, and avoid standing on one leg to dress.
- Heat, such as a warm (not hot) pack on the back or buttock.
- Medicines. Always check with your doctor, midwife or pharmacist before taking anything in pregnancy.
Does it go away after birth?
For most women, pelvic girdle pain improves after the baby is born, often within weeks to a few months. A smaller number have ongoing pain and benefit from continued physiotherapy.
When to get help
Talk to your GP, midwife or obstetrician if pain is stopping you walking, sleeping or working. Get urgent advice for back pain with vaginal bleeding, fluid loss, fever, burning when you wee, regular tightenings, or reduced baby movements. Numbness around the groin or new bladder or bowel control problems need emergency care.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Wu WH, Meijer OG, Uegaki K, et al. Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PPP), I: Terminology, clinical presentation, and prevalence. Eur Spine J. 2004;13(7):575-89.
- Vleeming A, Albert HB, Ostgaard HC, et al. European guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic girdle pain. Eur Spine J. 2008;17(6):794-819.
- Jensen RK, Kongsted A, Kjaer P, et al. Diagnosis and treatment of sciatica. BMJ. 2019;367:l6273.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.